Indian army decides to continue CBMs with Pakistan to reduce alertness level: Dar reveals ceasefire extended till 18th

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON: Leader of the House in the Senate and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar told the Upper House of Parliament on Thursday that ceasefire between India and Pakistan had been extended till May 18 (Sunday) through military-to-military communication.

He also clarified that Pakistan did not request a ceasefire in conversations with world leaders during heightened tension with India. He noted in fact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a telephonic conversation conveyed that India was willing to halt hostilities.

Taking part in the discussion on the recent escalation of hostilities by India and the swift, resolute and effective response by Pakistan armed forces, Dar made it clear that the government has told the world that “we will hold a composite dialogue. A political dialogue will ultimately take place to resolve all problems”.

The House also adopted a resolution and urged the government to proactively engage the international community for the peaceful, just and lasting resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and aspirations of Kashmiris.

Dar, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, termed the Indus Waters Treaty as a ‘no-go area’ and emphasized that any attempt to block Pakistan’s water through unlawful suspension of the treaty will be treated as an act of war.

He also said Pakistan had never accepted the unilateral revocation of the Occupied Kashmir’s special status by India in 2019. He noted that India used the Pahalgam incident as a pretext to sabotage the Indus Waters Treaty. “We told our friends we would not initiate an attack, but we would certainly respond if provoked,” he maintained.

He said that Pakistan had evidence of India launching attacks on multiple Pakistani military bases and civilian infrastructure, but Pakistan refrained from targeting Indian civilian areas in return.

He referenced to the public release of videos showing Pakistan’s counterattacks and noted that the National Security Committee made swift decisions in response to Indian aggression, and Pakistan’s military executed those plans effectively.

Addressing the international community’s perception, he made it clear that Pakistan is no longer diplomatically irrelevant; “we have proven our strategic and diplomatic significance.” He stressed the need for internal political stability and national unity in the face of persistent external threats.

Earlier, opening the discussion, Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentary Leader in the Senate Sherry Rehman said this war was deliberately thrust on us while Pakistan demonstrated to the world it was a responsible nuclear power. Sherry said that India accused Pakistan for the Pahalgam attack without any evidence and any dots linked, and till today they have not been able to provide the names of whom they think were responsible for the crime.

The House also unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the brutal and unprovoked Indian attacks on innocent civilians, including women, children and the mosques, praising the befitting response by the armed forces.

It emphasized the critical importance of strict adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to protect its rightful share of water as a fundamental component of national security, international agreements, economic stability, and sovereignty.

The House reminded India that any unilateral and illegal, holding in abeyance or other illegal violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, including attempts to divert or obstruct Pakistan’s water by any means whatsoever, constitutes a serious breach of international humanitarian law, and amounts not only to a war crime, but also a crime against humanity, with grave, regional and global repercussions.

Leader of the Opposition Syed Shibli Faraz said that our “Air Force has proven that just buying expensive aircraft does not improve defence capability. I pay tribute to the Air Force.”

Shibli claimed that the recent speech of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif after the ceasefire, was again an effort to pollute the present political atmosphere. He made it clear that political unity couldn’t be achieved through such discrimination, urging the need to withdraw all ‘politically motivated’ cases against the PTI.

The Senate will now meet again on Friday at 10:30am.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid a special visit to Kamra Airbase to meet the Pakistan Air Force pilots who successfully defended the nation during one of the longest aerial engagements of the 21st Century, firmly establishing Pakistan’s air superiority by downing several Indian aircraft in a critical defence operation.

The prime minister was accompanied by DPM Ishaq Dar, Minister of Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister of Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Information Attaullah Tarar, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Naveed Ashraf.

During the visit, the prime minister received a comprehensive briefing on the operational preparedness and combat capabilities of the Pakistan Air Force. He engaged with frontline personnel—including pilots, engineers, and technical staff and conveyed profound appreciation for their professionalism, precision and steadfast dedication to national defence.

Speaking to the PAF pilots, Shehbaz said, “The entire nation stands proud of your courage. You have not only defended our skies but also upheld Pakistan’s honour on the global stage.” He said that glorious victory achieved by Pakistan Armed Forces in brief war of less than 10 hours not only shattered the pride of the enemy but also changed equation of power in the world.

He maintained that glorious victory achieved by PAF in skies will be remembered forever. “Modi will remember till the doomsday as to how Rafale was shot down,” he added. He further remarked, “The entire nation takes immense pride in the valour and vigilance of its armed forces. Under the capable stewardship of the Chief of Army Staff, our defenders have once again underscored that Pakistan’s security is inviolable, and any act of belligerence will be met with a forceful, resolute, and unforgiving response.”

Highlighting the Pakistan Air Force’s operational success, Prime Minister Shehbaz added, “Confirmation of successful downing of a sixth Indian aircraft on the night of 6/ 7 May, a Mirage-2000 near Pampore east of Srinagar, is further a testament to the PAF’s combat excellence and the unflinching resolve of our armed forces to protect the motherland at all costs.”

He lauded the visionary leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, acknowledging his pivotal role in modernising the PAF and spearheading the seamless integration of advanced technologies that have significantly enhanced the Force’s operational capabilities.

Reaffirming the government’s and nation’s collective determination, the prime minister concluded, “Pakistan’s Armed Forces remain fully prepared and resolutely committed to defending every inch of our territory. Any aggression will be countered with a timely, proportionate and decisive response. We stand united, vigilant, and unshakable for the defence of our homeland.”

He said that the Naval Chief was in search of reviving ‘Operation Dwarka’ but he said that there is always something good in decisions of Allah Almighty. “We are peace-loving nation but desire for peace should not be considered as our weakness,” he said. He said that Pakistan was ready to hold talks for peace but there were pre-conditions including right of self-determination to Kashmiris.

Upon arrival, the prime minister was received by Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has strongly condemned the remarks of Indian defence minister on its nuclear arsenal, made on Thursday in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying that these irresponsible remarks revealed his profound insecurity and frustration regarding Pakistan’s effective defence and deterrence against Indian aggression through conventional means. “Pakistan’s conventional capabilities are adequate to deter India, without the self-imposed ‘nuclear blackmail’ that New Delhi suffers,” said the Foreign Office.

Earlier, the Indian defence minister had asked, while addressing soldiers in Srinagar, “Are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? I believe that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons should be taken under the supervision of IAEA.”

Correcting his “ignorance”, Pakistan pointed out his sheer ignorance of the mandate and responsibilities of a specialised agency of the United Nations like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). “If anything, the IAEA and the international community should be worried about the repeated theft and illicit trafficking incidents involving nuclear and radioactive material in India,” reminded the Foreign Office.

In this regard the Indian defence minister was reminded about five individuals in 2024 caught with a radioactive device reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Dehradun, India.

Pakistan once again urged a thorough investigation of these incidents and called upon India to ensure the safety and security of its nuclear facilities and arsenal. “Later, a gang of individuals was found with illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance, Californium, worth US$100 million. Three incidents of theft of Californium were also reported in 2021. These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive material. These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India,” added the statement when the Indian media had itself published these details.

Meanwhile, Pakistan welcomed the United States’ decision to lift sanctions from Syria, marking a pivotal step towards regional stability and economic recovery. Pakistan commended the commitment of all countries, in particular the US, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, working constructively towards a peaceful Syria. “Pakistan supports a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned resolution and remains steadfast in its support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” said the statement. Separately, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch briefed the Islamabad-based diplomatic missions on the recent developments in Pakistan-India relations. She apprised the diplomatic corps of the implementation and progress of the ceasefire announced on 10 May 2025.

She underscored that, as a goodwill gesture, Pakistan and India exchanged the personnel of Pakistan Rangers and the Indian Border Security Force in each other’s custody. She thanked the friendly countries for their constructive role in achieving the ceasefire.

“In the context of India’s baseless assertions on establishing a new normal,” the foreign secretary stressed that the only “normal” in bilateral relations is respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Meanwhile, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry has warned that by rooting for war, India was carving out a “recipe for mutual destruction,” observing that that the world now had recognised the extent of nuclear threat.

“Any sane player like the USA understands this absurdity and what the Indians are trying to do here,” Chaudhry told Sky News in an interview. He warned that anyone trying to violate Pakistan’s territorial integrity and sovereignty would receive a brutal response.

“Any Indian ceasefire violation would be met with a swift and assured response by Pakistan,” he said, cautioning that serious escalation could result in mutual destruction.

He maintained Pakistan is a peace-loving country and it is not celebrating victory but peace.

The ISPR DG warned that a “serious escalation between India and Pakistan would destroy both sides” under the concept of mutually assured destruction.

As far as Kashmir, he maintained that Kashmir was an external issue which India was trying to internalise. “India has been trying to internalise the issue and harassing Kashmiri people with a heavy troop presence,” he said, adding that it is a problem that has to be resolved by the people of Kashmir as per the United Nations Security Council resolutions. “It is an external issue which involves China, India and Pakistan,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking with the Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev over the telephone, the prime minister, expressing his concern over the recent provocative statements by the Indian leadership, affirmed that in face of any future aggression, Pakistan would resolutely defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stressed that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was the root cause of instability in South Asia, which should be resolved in accordance with the UN Security Council’s resolutions. The prime minister conveyed his profound gratitude to President Aliyev for resolutely standing with Pakistan during the recent crisis in South Asia. President Aliyev warmly congratulated the prime minister upon Pakistan’s remarkable success. He welcomed the ceasefire understanding, while appreciating Pakistan’s efforts for peace.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army in a statement said that it has “decided to continue confidence building measures with Pakistan to reduce alertness level,” Reuters reported.

Upping its aggressive posture against Pakistan, India’s foreign minister, meanwhile, said that the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan would remain suspended until Islamabad ends “cross-border terrorism.” “The Indus Waters Treaty is held in abeyance and will continue to be held in abeyance until the cross-border terrorism by Pakistan is credibly and irrevocably stopped,” Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said.

Meanwhile, the United States has welcomed the ceasefire between India and Pakistan and is urging both nations to engage in direct talks to maintain peace and stability in the region.

During a press briefing, State Department spokesperson Thomas “Tommy” Pigott expressed support for the pause in hostilities, noting the importance of diplomatic engagement.

“We are happy to see a ceasefire that has held over the last couple of days, and we want to encourage and support direct talks between the parties,” Pigott said. “We have been clear in taking a step back and focusing on diplomacy.”

Pigott emphasized President Trump’s commitment to advancing peace. “The President is a peacemaker, and we celebrate the advancement of peace. We hope the ceasefire is maintained and that direct dialogue continues—that is where our focus remains.” When asked about concerns regarding the possibility of a nuclear exchange between the two countries, Pigott did not elaborate but reiterated the importance of de-escalation and diplomacy. He also noted that President Trump has praised the efforts of both Indian and Pakistani prime ministers in working toward peace. The US has consistently advocated for peaceful resolution of conflicts in South Asia, and the latest statements underline Washington’s strategic interest in stability in the region, particularly between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, he added.